Eye Patients' Comments
Arthur Holroyd: Bilateral Simultaneous Cataract Surgery with Monovision
My name is Arthur Holroyd, I am sixty two and had a cataract operation on both eyes simultaneously, under general anaesthetic, in 2004.
In my late forties my eyesight deteriorated. It began with the need for reading glasses and later with the need for long distance glasses. I accepted glasses as part of the ageing process but was never happy with them. I eventually used varifocal lenses and briefly flirted with varifocal contact lenses (which were for me a complete disaster).
In my late fifties I experienced difficulty seeing whilst driving in low light. Overtaking at dusk and reading 'white on blue' motorway signs became a problem. Assuming I needed stronger lenses I visited an optician. During the eye test I was advised to see my doctor as there was a possibility of cataracts. The doctor referred me to Mr Peckar who agreed to operate.
I was given the option of having each eye corrected in separate operations under general or local anaesthetic or both eyes corrected in one operation under general anaesthetic. I chose to have both eyes corrected in one operation. The operation went ahead on both eyes without a hitch.
Before the operation I was examined by the optician and corrective lenses were recommended. I was offered one reading lens in my left eye and one distance lens in my right eye. It was explained to me that my brain would compensate and both eyes would work in tandem. My hobby is Archery and the dual focus principle seemed attractive because focusing over long distances was very difficult in varifocals.
The operation went ahead and was very successful. I woke up with one eye completely covered and one eye covered by a clear plastic cover. It was obvious, from the minute I woke, that there was an improvement in vision; colours were more vibrant and I could read signs on the recovery room wall without glasses. The cover was removed on the second eye about two hours later.
When my eyes became accustomed to the light it was obvious the both eyes were different. Distant objects were focused with one eye and near objects with the other. I could actually feel the process happening. Gradually over a period of about six to eight weeks this sensation disappeared and I now have no other sensation than that I can focus at all distances without glasses. No more varifocals, reading glasses and prescription sunglasses; brilliant!
John Corbett: Toric IOLs & Monovision for Cataracts with Astigmatism & Myopia
My name is John Corbett and I am 55 years old.
I was really struggling with my vision due to cataracts in 2006 (age 52).
My golf game was suffering because I could not see the ball over any long distances and my fellow golfers were endlessly teasing me on the whereabouts of my drives. I would go to a bunker on the left when my ball would be on the right somewhere.
Driving in the dark was very scary as lights seemed to dazzle me and I felt that life was not treating me fairly.
Thank goodness the Rayner Toric lenses, new in the market then, worked a treat; thanks to the skills of Mr Peckar.
Since having these lenses implanted my golf game has improved to the point where I won a major club trophy last year (now that I can actually see where the ball is going). Mr Peckar also cured my astigmatism, so that my vision is now the best it has ever been.
To say I was pleased is really an understatement as having these Toric intraocular lenses has given me a new lease of life
Alan: Early Cataract Surgery with Monovision & Toric IOLs for Myopia and Astigmatism
My name is Alan and I am 54 years old.
I was a spectacle and contact lens wearer for over 30 years. During the 3-4 years before my surgery, I became intolerant to contact lenses and actually suffered from a condition called GPC, ‘Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis’. I therefore investigated both laser surgery and possible cataract surgery because I was presenting with the early signs of a cataract. The laser surgery had to be ruled out simply because of the thickness of my corneas and because I suffered, not only from myopia, but from moderate astigmatism in both eyes. I, therefore, investigated the option of cataract surgery, in particular with Toric lenses.
Following those investigations I decided to go ahead with cataract surgery with the intention of being as much as possible “spectacle free”. I was looking for 80-90% of the time “not wearing spectacles”. I am glad to say that the outcome has actually achieved that, with my life now being largely spectacle free, only wearing spectacles for reading or driving when I want to sharpen up the vision. I am very happy with the overall result and can resume my active lifestyle of water sports and golf without having to use spectacles.
Susan Reid: Cataract Surgery with Monovision
My name is Susan Reid; I am forty seven years old. This year, 2008, I have had successful cataract surgery with Mr Peckar, which has transformed my life.
I had good eyesight, then, in my twenties I became slightly short sighted and wore glasses for distance activities like driving. At forty four I noticed I was having some difficulty with reading small print and, at my regular eye test, was told that I had cataracts in both eyes. I underwent surgery, with another surgeon, and had an AcrySof MA30 acrylic lens for distance vision implanted in my Left eye. My distance vision was fine in an ambient light but in any artificial light I would see circles of light and beams of light across my eyes, called 'positive dysphotopsia'. Some weeks later I underwent intraocular lens replacement and the Rayner Centreflex 570H lens was used. I still experienced similar symptoms but to a much lesser degree with this new lens.
Two and a half years later the vision in my Left eye deteriorated, due to capsular thickening, and I underwent YAG Laser treatment which successfully restored its vision. By this time the cataract in my Right eye was so dense that I could only see light and dark shadows.
I consulted Mr Peckar to try and find a suitable lens for implantation in my Right eye to cut down my chances of dysphotopsia and give me the best chance of good vision in the long term. He recommended the Rayner Superflex, a larger sized version of the lens in my Left eye, adjusted for close vision, to give me a better range of vision without the need for glasses (monovision).
The surgery was carried out under general anaesthetic and was very successful. I was operated on in the morning and had the dressing removed in the evening and was then able to go home. There was very little pain, only mild discomfort for a short time. For the first few days, until the pupils shrank back to their normal size, there were lots of circles of light but luckily they went and this eye is now free of the dysphotopsia I have in the other eye. At first I had double vision while my brain got used to focusing on objects with two different lenses; this settled down and I got used to my new eye very quickly. I was back driving and playing tennis, without glasses, about a week after surgery.
The monovision solution has meant that I can live without needing glasses for distance or reading, although I may use glasses for reading some small print.
My overall vision has improved tremendously.I can see all sorts of things that I couldn’t focus on before and I can drive at night, which I couldn’t do before.
The quality of my life has improved enormously and I am very grateful to Mr Peckar and his team for everything they have done.
Stella: Artisan Phakic IOLs for Myopia
My name is Stella and I am 41 years old. I am married and have a 4 year old son. I appear in the video clip undergoing surgery. I first needed glasses when I was 7 years old.
By the time I was adult, my right eye was -10.00 dioptres and my left eye was -8.00. I tried wearing contact lenses but found them fiddly. When I broke my glasses on various occasions, I was unable to make a cup of tea or answer the door because I could not see properly. A modern pair of glasses with high index lenses would be expensive, about £400.
My eyesight after surgery was better than I thought possible. I am able to drive a car and read without glasses. When I wake in the morning I am able to see the bedside clock and when I have a shower I can see which bottle is shampoo/ conditioner.
I can take my son swimming and he can splash my face which is wonderful. When I go for a walk in the rain I can still see whereas before my glasses would be all steamed up.
The surgery has given me freedom and I am able to enjoy things more now
David: Canaloplasty (Glaucoma Surgery)
My name is David. I am 54 years old and was diagnosed with glaucoma 10 years ago as a result of a routine optician’s examination. I was referred to Mr Peckar and have been under his care since the diagnosis. Initially the pressures were only abnormal in one eye but over time both eyes have been affected. The treatment initially comprised one set of drops but gradually the regime was extended to three different drops in both eyes morning and evening. Whilst the drops caused considerable discomfort I adhered rigorously to the treatment plan but by the middle of last year it was clear that the drugs were no longer able to keep the pressure under control in the worst effected eye and that surgery had to be considered.
Mr Peckar recommended a canaloplasty. This is a new form of pressure reducing surgery which involves “dyn-o-rodding” the circular draining duct surrounding the iris and holding this open with a stitch. Whilst my consultant had very good results from the operation I was concerned that this was a new technique. I carefully researched the alternatives and looked at the video of the operation on the consultant’s website (only for those with a strong stomach). The approach seemed logical and I had confidence in my consultant so we agreed to proceed.
The operation took over one hour and was carried out under a general anaesthetic. My only memories of the operation are the anaesthetist asking me to count to 10 (I made to 4) and coming round in the recovery room with a bandage and patch over my eye. Other than feeling very groggy from the operation I felt no pain in my eye. The dressings were removed that afternoon and I was provided with antibiotic and steroid drops which had to be applied for the next fortnight. The sight in the eye was initially blurred, due to a small amount of residual blood in the eye, as I had been warned may occur. (Apparently this occurs in about 10% of cases). My consultant examined my eye in the evening and concluded that it was not necessary for me to stay in hospital overnight.
The blood in my eye gradually cleared and my sight returned to normal over the next fortnight, although I experienced some difficulty in driving at night for a month due to reflections. Pleasingly the pressure has returned to normal and I no longer have to use drops in that eye. I expect that I will require an operation to relieve the pressure in my other eye, in due course, and based on my experience of the first operation will have no hesitation in repeating the process.
All in all a very good outcome and I am very grateful to Mr Peckar and the team for the excellent care I received. |
